Unexplainable weight gain?

[mmackeymouse]

Okay, so I have been working hard to lose weight for the past few months. As is probably typical, I gained some weight over Christmas that I have been working hard to lose.

As of Monday, I was down to 1.5 lb before I hit my pre-Christmas weight, so I was pretty excited. Then, I weighed myself this morning, and I had gained 2 lbs. TWO POUNDS.

Now, normally, I do not stress over minor weight gains, half a pound here or a quarter pound there, as I realize there is always margin for error due to water retention, sodium intake, not to be gross, but bodily functions. But 2 lbs?! That is an awful lot to blame on some vague extraneous factors.

But, I cannot fathom HOW it happened. I have counted my calories faithfully, been at the gym, drank loads of water, have not really had any high sodium foods, I should not have a "bloat".....I just don't get it.

Part of me just wants to not eat anything at all for a couple of days. But, I know that would do more harm than good, as I would end up binge eating, and the not eating would screw with my metabolism.

Does anyone have any thoughts on unexplained weight gain? Prior experience?

 

[lisah0711]

For me when I am losing weight I do have swings from day to day -- for the reasons that you mentioned -- I use daily weighing to remind myself to stay on track and let the weekly weight trends tell me what is really going on.

ITA though it is so hard when you've been so good and working so hard and see a 2 lb. gain -- it's like WTH? If I am going to gain 2 lb. then I would have liked to have eaten something bad and enjoyed it!

If it continues you may want to pay a visit to your doctor for a checkup.

Good luck!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Maybe some of it's muscle gain? Muscle does weigh more than fat. I weigh the same amount as my Mom but I wear a size 6, she wears a size 12.

My weight fluctuates about 5 lbs. throughout the day. Almost every day I'll weigh 5 lbs. less in the morning than I do at night.

Just keep at it! It's a slow process sometimes (I lost 25 lbs. in a year and a half). It can be frustrating.

 

[~Brandy~]

I have the crazy up and down swings too. I also weigh daily just to see a general downward trend. I know my limits and if I only weighed once a week and saw a gain, I would probably get depressed and give up. But since I weigh daily and I see that my weight is all over the place but mostly going down, I don't worry.

2 lbs seems like a lot but really, it adds up quick from the factors you mentioned.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Either your body is in revolt (but will eventually cave) or it is just one of those flukes and will fix its self in a day or 2. Whenever that happens to me, I think of the BL people that are so carefully monitored and still gain weight some weeks (game play aside).

if you are really desperate you could try an "apple day." If you have not lost weight in 4 days, my doc says to eat 6 apples in a one day. That is all you get, nothing else and no liquids for the day not even water. Something about that "jump starts" things again. I have never tried it as I always lose a little within the 4 days, but I have gotten close to trying it.

Good luck!

 

[mmackeymouse]

I actually do generally weigh myself every day. And usually, I do see a downward shift. For example, Mon, I was excited. Tuesday, I had gained just about .4 lb, which I attributed to misc. factors. Wed, I was back down to where I was Monday. I forgot to weigh myself yesterday, but I never got "off track" or anything.

I am aware that muscle weighs more than fat, and I DID do weights yesterday, but I just did not expect a 2 lb gain, as I actually usually lose weight following my weight days.

It is just that SUCH a dramatic gain is rare to see, at least for me. Things that like are uaully reserved for days where I am bad, or TOM, or things like that.

I will just go to the gym today, and carry on like nothing has changed. I mean, what else can ya do, ya know?

 

[momof2minnies]

How is your carb intake?Having too many carbs and sodium of course is what makes us retain fluid.

Don't stress too much over 2 lbs.I can fluctuate 5-7 lbs within a week believe it or not and that depends on what I eat that holds the fluids in.Watch what you eat and do an extra sweaty workout and it will go.

Linda

 

[lovinaz]

This happens to me quite often, usually based on certain times of the month... You know you didn't eat 7000+ calories to gain 2 lbs of fat, so it's got to be fluid retention. It will eventually go away, as frustrating as it is.

I never seem to question myself when I see a 3 lb DROP from the day before (and I know I didn't burn 10,500 calories more than I ate that day), but when there is a 3 lb GAIN, I get upset.

As long as you are seeing a general trend downward, you are doing good. Don't let it discourage you and keep doing what you are doing!

 

[mmackeymouse]

This happens to me quite often, usually based on certain times of the month... You know you didn't eat 7000+ calories to gain 2 lbs of fat, so it's got to be fluid retention. It will eventually go away, as frustrating as it is.

I never seem to question myself when I see a 3 lb DROP from the day before (and I know I didn't burn 10,500 calories more than I ate that day), but when there is a 3 lb GAIN, I get upset.

As long as you are seeing a general trend downward, you are doing good. Don't let it discourage you and keep doing what you are doing!

Good thinking. I actually have never seen an overnight loss of 3 lbs......my weight loss has been pretty consistently slow and steady.

I think I am gonna see how the month of January goes, and if I am still hitting a wall, I may consult a nutritionist.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Seems like you are doing well in keeping an eye on yourself.

Have you taken measurements? Often you will not see the scale move down, but you may be trimming up if you are doing your workouts. Keep up with healthy eating choices. I have found that my body likes change and will try to split up some of my meals so I am eating the portion for one meal, but in 2 sittings. I change that around and it seems to help me.

Never give up! You can do this!

 

[mmackeymouse]

Seems like you are doing well in keeping an eye on yourself.

Have you taken measurements? Often you will not see the scale move down, but you may be trimming up if you are doing your workouts. Keep up with healthy eating choices. I have found that my body likes change and will try to split up some of my meals so I am eating the portion for one meal, but in 2 sittings. I change that around and it seems to help me.

Never give up! You can do this!

Thank you! As of this morning, I am back within a pound of my pre-Christmas weight. If I burned 830 calories at the gym yesterday and did not see any movement, I was gonna lose it.

I would love to get one of those BodyBuggs that they have on BL, that way I know exactly how many calories I am burning, as right now, I kind of rely on the machines at the gym and my Fit Day program to give me an estimate.

If I wake up tomorrow, and that scale has moved up AT ALL, you all will hear me screaming from the top of my lungs.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I go to 24hour Fitness and those Body Buggs are EVERYWHERE! They're pretty damn expensive though. When they have a sale, I'll definitely think about getting one! (They go on sale a few times a year. They just came out with a smaller, more compact version so it might be awhile)